Tuscawilla Park zip line working out well

City government gets a cut of revenue from the deal, which can be extended for 35 years. So far, the city has received more money than estimated. That's very welcome news at City Hall.

OUR VIEW

Daytona Beach is getting comfortable with its newest park feature — a zip line at Tuscawilla Park. Four-and-a-half months after Zoom Air Daytona Beach opened the attraction at the park, business has been brisk. And an aging but beautiful park is attracting more visitors and providing a bit of a financial lift for the city. The addition of Zoom Air meant more than just zip lines. The company added a variety of features, from rope bridges to dancing logs. The park has a number of "aerial adventures" that give participants a perspective that previously only squirrels and birds had. The city and Zoom Air signed a deal in April for 10 years. City government gets a cut of revenue from the deal, which can be extended for 35 years. So far, the city has received more money than estimated. That's very welcome news at City Hall. This private venture also has created some new jobs. That's welcome news too. The city and Zoom Air expected $20,000 to make it into city coffers by the one-year anniversary of the attraction's opening. After 4 1/2 months, the city has already received $10,000. That's much more than the expected $2,300 annual cost to keep the park in order. The city and the visitors to the park are getting a win-win deal. The park's new tenant has brought more people to the park's forested area. The city and the business are making money. And most important, people appear to be having a lot of fun exploring the grounds of Tuscawilla Park. It's not often that a park business can come in and provide this much entertainment with minimal environmental disturbance. Some squirrels and birds may have been scared off — at first. They probably have adapted to the new visitors. The new business has also caused vagrants to leave. That too shows the benefit of adding an "eco-tourism" business to a city park. It means more people now feel comfortable coming back to Tuscawilla Park to picnic or take a walk. Taxpayers knew the Daytona Beach Pier would eventually generate cash instead of simply costing the city money, and the pier is generating revenue now that it has been renovated. But the success at Tuscawilla proves city officials were wise to look to park or park-like properties as a source of revenue that can be used to maintain and improve the amenities. With the zip line and other climbing attractions, Tuscawilla Park has been reinvigorated and made more attractive to the public. That's a big plus for city government and city residents.